Mulberry farming for sericulture — V1/S36 varieties, silkworm rearing, Central Silk Board support and dual income from silk + fruit.
Mulberry farming sericulture के लिए — V1/S36 varieties, silkworm rearing, Central Silk Board support और silk+fruit dual income।
Mulberry (Morus species) — Shahtut in Hindi — is uniquely positioned as India's only major crop that simultaneously produces a food fruit AND serves as the exclusive food for silkworms (Bombyx mori) in sericulture. India is the world's second-largest silk producer after China, with Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir leading mulberry-based silk production. Mulberry farming for silkworm rearing (sericulture) is one of India's most labor-intensive but also most profitable rural livelihood options.
Mulberry (शहतूत) uniquely positioned है — food fruit AND silkworms के exclusive food के रूप में sericulture में। India world's second-largest silk producer है। Karnataka, AP, Tamil Nadu, WB lead। Mulberry sericulture India's most profitable rural livelihood options में से एक है।
🌿 Why Farm Mulberry?
Sericulture — Premium Income
Silkworm cocoons sell at Rs.200–400/kg. One hectare of mulberry supports 2–3 silkworm crops per month. A family operation on 0.5 ha mulberry + silkworm rearing generates Rs.2–4 lakh/year from silk alone.
Mulberry Fruit — Premium Price
Mulberry fruit (Shahtut) is a health superfood — Rs.100–300/kg fresh, Rs.400–800/kg dried. Urban health food market growing rapidly. Mulberry leaf tea, mulberry powder — additional products from same plantation.
Government Subsidy
Central Silk Board provides: free mulberry saplings, silkworm eggs at subsidized rates, training programs, guaranteed cocoon purchase centers. One of India's most government-supported agricultural activities.
Year-Round Multiple Harvests
Mulberry leaf harvest every 30–45 days year-round for silkworm feeding. Fruit harvest once annually (April–June). Continuous income cycle makes it excellent for small and marginal farmers.
🌿 Two Types of Mulberry Farming
Mulberry Farming के दो Types
| Type | Focus | Pruning | Income | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🐛 Sericulture (leaf crop) | Leaf production for silkworms | Hard pruning 3–4 times/year for maximum leaf | Cocoon sales — Rs.2–5 lakh/ha/yr | Silk production zones (Karnataka, AP, TN) |
| 🫐 Fruit crop (Shahtut) | Fruit production for market | Minimal — tree form for fruit production | Fruit sales — Rs.1–3 lakh/ha/yr | North India urban market proximity |
| 🔄 Combined (dual purpose) | Both leaf and fruit | Selective — some trees leaf, some fruit | Combined — Rs.2–4 lakh/ha/yr | Most versatile, best risk management |
🌱 Best Mulberry Varieties for India
| Variety | Best Use | Leaf Yield | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌿 V1 (CSB variety) | Sericulture — leaf | Very high | Karnataka, AP, TN — standard sericulture |
| 🌿 S36 | Sericulture — leaf | Very high | South India — drought tolerant |
| 🌿 Vishala | Sericulture — leaf | High | All India — CSB recommended |
| 🫐 Morus alba (White Mulberry) | Fruit + leaf | Medium | North India — large sweet white fruits |
| 🫐 Morus nigra (Black Mulberry) | Fruit market | Low | J&K, Himachal — premium dark fruit |
| 🫐 Punjab Local | Fruit — large red | Medium | Punjab, Haryana — large fruit market |
🌍 Climate & Soil Requirements
Climate और Soil
- Temperature: 24–38°C ideal for leaf production. Handles 10–45°C. Warmer conditions = faster leaf growth = more silkworm crops per year. Cold below 10°C slows growth significantly.
- Rainfall: 600–2,500mm. Moderate drought tolerance once established. Irrigation essential in dry spells for consistent leaf production.
- Soil: Sandy loam to loamy, well-drained, pH 6.5–7.5. High organic matter gives best leaf quality for silkworm feeding. Cannot tolerate waterlogging — Boron and Zinc important micronutrients for leaf quality.
- Sericulture states: Karnataka (largest), Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand.
🌱 Planting Guide
1
Get cuttings/saplings from Central Silk Board
Central Silk Board से cuttings/saplings लें।
Central Silk Board (CSB) regional offices provide free or subsidized mulberry saplings of recommended varieties (V1, S36, Vishala) to registered sericulture farmers. Contact the nearest CSB Regional Silk Technological Research Station. Saplings can also be propagated from hardwood cuttings (30 cm) taken in December–January from certified mother plants.
2
Field layout and spacing
Field layout और spacing।
For sericulture (leaf): Plant in rows 90×90 cm (12,000 plants/ha) or 60×60 cm for high-density leaf production. For fruit (tree form): 4×4 m (625 trees/ha) or 5×5 m (400 trees/ha). Best planting time: July–August (monsoon) or February–March. Add 15 tonnes FYM per hectare before planting.
💧 Irrigation & Fertilizer
Irrigation और Fertilizer
- Irrigation: Every 10–15 days in dry season for leaf crop. Drip irrigation with fertigation increases leaf yield 30–40% and improves leaf protein content (critical for silkworm growth).
- N:P:K = 300:120:120 kg/ha/year for leaf crop — very nitrogen-intensive. High N = thick, protein-rich leaves = faster silkworm growth. Split in 4–6 applications through the year.
- Pruning schedule for leaf crop: Bottom pruning (50 cm height) 4 times/year creates maximum new leafy shoots. Each pruning cycle: 30–45 days regrowth before next harvest for silkworms.
- For fruit crop: Minimal pruning — let tree develop natural form. N:P:K = 150:60:100 kg/ha/year. Potassium important for fruit sugar content.
🐛 Silkworm Rearing — Sericulture Basics
Silkworm Rearing — Sericulture Basics
- Get silkworm eggs from CSB: Central Silk Board supplies disease-free layings (DFLs) — each DFL = 20,000 eggs. Cost: Rs.5–15/DFL. One DFL requires 60–70 kg mulberry leaves over the 25-day rearing cycle.
- Rearing house: Clean, well-ventilated room. Temperature 20–28°C, humidity 65–80%. 4–5 silkworm crops per year possible in warm regions.
- Feeding schedule: Feed fresh mulberry leaves 4–6 times daily. Leaf quality directly determines silk yield and cocoon quality. Last instar (5th stage) silkworms eat 85% of their total food intake.
- Cocoon harvest: 25 days after hatching, silkworms spin cocoons. Harvest after 5–7 days. Sell to nearby reeling units or CSB purchase centers at Rs.200–400/kg.
💰 Mulberry Farming Profitability — 0.5 Hectare Sericulture
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mulberry establishment (0.5 ha) | Rs.15,000–25,000 |
| Rearing house construction | Rs.30,000–80,000 |
| Annual inputs (fertilizer, silkworm eggs, labor) | Rs.30,000–50,000/yr |
| Cocoons: 5 crops/yr × 50 kg = 250 kg @ Rs.280/kg | Rs.70,000/yr |
| Fruit sales (additional) | Rs.15,000–30,000/yr |
| Net Income (family operation) | Rs.35,000–65,000/yr (0.5 ha) |
| Scale to 2 ha + skilled management | Rs.2,00,000–4,00,000/yr |
🌿
Final tip: Mulberry-based sericulture is one of India's most labor-intensive but also most government-supported agricultural activities. The Central Silk Board provides free training, subsidized inputs, technical support and guaranteed purchase centers for cocoons — reducing market risk significantly. For rural households in Karnataka, AP and TN with small land holdings, sericulture often generates more income per square meter than any other crop. Contact the nearest CSB office before starting.
Mulberry sericulture India के most government-supported agricultural activities में से एक है। Central Silk Board free training, subsidized inputs, technical support और guaranteed purchase centers provide करता है। Karnataka, AP, TN में small land holders के लिए per square meter most income। शुरू करने से पहले nearest CSB office contact करें।